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זָהַר

𐤆𐤄𐤓

zâhar

H2094 verb

SILEX Entry

Root זהר to shine, to give light, to warn, to admonish

Definition

To shine or emit light, both in the literal sense of gleaming or emitting brightness, and in the figurative sense of warning, admonishing, or instructing someone so as to bring awareness or caution. In non-literal contexts, the verb most often refers to giving an admonition or warning, to make someone aware or attentive, especially regarding moral or legal obligations.

Semantic Range

to shine (literally); to give off brightness; to warn, to admonish, to caution, to make aware, to instruct (about danger or obligation), to enlighten (figuratively)

Root / Etymology

From the root זהר, which fundamentally connotes brightness or shining. The verb זָהַר originally describes the act of emitting light or gleaming, and its figurative usages arise by extension: as shining brings things to light or makes them visible, so admonishing or warning brings awareness to another, 'shedding light' on a potential danger or responsibility. This movement from the literal to the figurative is well established in Hebrew and related Semitic languages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, זָהַר is used both in physical and metaphorical contexts. Its concrete sense occurs in poetic language, such as describing radiance or the act of shining, though this is comparatively rare. The more prevalent usage is metaphorical, found especially in the later layers of biblical literature (notably Ezekiel and Chronicles), where priests, prophets, or leaders 'warn' or 'admonish' people to observe commandments or avoid wrongdoing—carrying connotations of alerting with authority or concern. It often appears with prepositions indicating the object of warning (e.g., בְּ 'of', מִן 'from'), and is differentiated from other warning/teaching verbs like לִמַּד (to teach, emphasizing instruction) or הוֹכִיחַ (to rebuke, emphasizing correction), by its focus on preventive admonition or making aware. English translations sometimes render זָהַר as 'warn', 'admonish', or 'give instruction,' but 'to shine' only fits rare, contextually poetic occurrences. During the exilic and post-exilic periods, usage tends to cluster around priestly or Levitical admonitions relating to ritual or legal purity, reflecting increased concern for community boundaries and covenantal responsibilities.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to gleam; figuratively, to enlighten (by caution); admonish, shine, teach, (give) warn(-ing).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

זהר (z-h-r) — shining, brightness, warning, admonition

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2095 זְהַר and warned ones
H2096 זֹהַר like radiance of

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2094-06 נִזְהָ֔ר nizehar HVNrmsa had taken warning the one being warned 6
H2094-03 הִזְהַרְתּ֗/וֹ hizehareto HVhp2ms/Sp3ms you-warned-him you caused him to be warned 3
H2094-02 הִזְהַ֣רְתָּ hizehareta HVhp2ms you have warned you gave warning 2
H2094-07 וְ/הִזְהַרְתָּ֥ vehizehareta HC/Vhq2ms and warn and you warned 2
H2094-04 לְ/הַזְהִ֥יר lehazehir HR/Vhc to warn to cause to shine 2
H2094-12 ו/הזהיר/ה vhzhyrh HC/Vhp3ms/Sp3ms and warned him and he enlightened him 1
H2094-11 וְ/הִזְהִיר֖/וֹ vehizehiro HC/Vhp3ms/Sp3ms and warned him and he caused him to be warned 1
H2094-10 וְ/הִזְהִ֥יר vehizehir HC/Vhq3ms and warns and he gave warning 1
H2094-13 יַזְהִ֖רוּ yazehiru HVhi3mp shall shine they will give warning 1
H2094-05 לְ/הִזָּהֵ֖ר lehizaher HR/VNc to take warning 1

Occurrences in Scripture

23 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2094-08 Exodus 18:20 וְ/הִזְהַרְתָּ֣ה vehizeharetah HC/Vhq2ms you shall warn and you warned
H2094-12 2 Kings 6:10 ו/הזהיר/ה vhzhyrh HC/Vhp3ms/Sp3ms and warned him and he enlightened him
H2094-11 2 Kings 6:10 וְ/הִזְהִיר֖/וֹ vehizehiro HC/Vhp3ms/Sp3ms and warned him and he caused him to be warned
H2094-07 Ezekiel 3:17 וְ/הִזְהַרְתָּ֥ vehizehareta HC/Vhq2ms and warn and you warned
H2094-03 Ezekiel 3:18 הִזְהַרְתּ֗/וֹ hizehareto HVhp2ms/Sp3ms you warn him you caused him to be warned
H2094-04 Ezekiel 3:18 לְ/הַזְהִ֥יר lehazehir HR/Vhc to warn to cause to shine
H2094-02 Ezekiel 3:19 הִזְהַ֣רְתָּ hizehareta HVhp2ms you have warned you gave warning
H2094-03 Ezekiel 3:20 הִזְהַרְתּ/וֹ֙ hizehareto HVhp2ms/Sp3ms you-warned-him you caused him to be warned
H2094-03 Ezekiel 3:21 הִזְהַרְתּ֣/וֹ hizehareto HVhp2ms/Sp3ms you have warned him you caused him to be warned
H2094-06 Ezekiel 3:21 נִזְהָ֔ר nizehar HVNrmsa he took warning the one being warned
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